The earliest evidence of the use of spices by man, could be traced back to 5000 B.C. The spice trade developed throughout the Middle East in around 2000 B.C. with cinnamon and pepper being the main items traded at that time in the formative period of the industry.

The Egyptians used herbs for embalming and their need for exotic herbs then perhaps stimulated the world trade in spices. In fact the word spices originated from the same root as species - meaning kinds of goods.

By 1000 B.C spices were among the top luxury products available in Europe in the Middle Ages. It was Vasco Da Gama and Christopher Columbus who, after their return from their voyages to India, described to investors the many new and unknown spices available there.

In the early days of trading Sri Lanka was known as a Spice Island.

Spices today play a very significant and vital role in the country’s agricultural economy as significant export oriented crops. The important spices grown here are cinnamon, pepper, cloves, nutmegs, and mace.

Spices are cultivated in the hill country and intermediate zones. As a major Asian spice exporter, Sri Lankan spices fetch a premium in world markets. The Preferential Tariff Agreement signed by the Governments of Sri Lanka and India enables our spices to reach the Indian market at a negligible duty giving us an advantage in that market.

This agreement was a remarkable achievement by the government of the day that has brought our country tremendous export revenue and also substantially increased the volume of our spice exports making us a leader in the global spice industry.

Besides India, our spices are exported to the USA., UK, Europe, Germany, and Mexico. I wonder how many are aware of the fact that the biggest exporter of cinnamon in the world today is Sri Lanka and we should all be proud of this.

Cassia bark is sometimes mistaken for cinnamon and vice versa.

This is an enormous error as cinnamon is the vastly superior product as evidenced by the premium prices it fetches compared to cassia in global markets. Cassia is freely available the world over while cinnamon grows only in a few countries including ours and val kurundu is a cheaper and less valuable product than cinammon in every sense.

During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Sri Lanka’s exports of spices developed rapidly from its primitive form thanks to modern technology and we as a nation gained international respect among the global giants in the spice trade.

Sri Lanka started attending international conferences and seminars on spices, especially pepper. Spices are only second to tea and rubber among the country’s international export commodities.

The spice export trade was in the hands of the a few reputed business houses who believed in conducting themselves with utmost rectitude. While they competed with each other, they did not compromise on standards and principles to the detriment of the reputations of their own companies as well as that of the country. Profit was not the overriding consideration.

This, unfortunately, is not the case today with some unscrupulous elements

looking for a fast buck tarnishing the country’s name by engaging in various sharp practices. Millionaires are not made overnights and business must be done logically and systematically. Exporting rubbish to fulfill contracts damages the country’s reputation and those who engage in such transactions hurt not only themselves but Sri Lanka’s reputation as a reliable spice exporter.

It is my earnest hope and prayer that sanity will prevail and the so-called mushroom exporters will realize that there is enough business to go round and profits to be made without engaging in cut-throat competition .